Candle dipping machine



Nov. 14, 1950 c. T. BANKS 2,529,829

CANDLE DIPPING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5, 1948 2 Sheets- Sheet l IN VEN TOR.

7 7M vmm;

Nov. 14, 1950 c. T. BANKS 2,529,829

CANDLE DIPPING MACHINE INVENTOR.

147 TOE/V5 V6 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 CANDLE DIPPING MACHINE Charles T. Banks, Neenah, Wis., assignor to Victrylite Candle Company, Oshkosh, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 5, 1948, Serial No. 52,837

20 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in candle dipping machines.

The better grade of candles are known as "hand dipped candles. Forming candles by the hand dipping method is slow, tedious and expensive. However, the quality of the candles produced by this method creates a demand for said candles in spite of the higher cost thereof.

In making candles by the hand dipping method, wicks are suspended vertically from a frame. This frame is lowered over a vat of molten wax until the wicks are submerged, and the frame is then raised to lift said wicks out of the molten wax. During this dipping operation the frame is moved in a vertical path only. The formation of a candle by means of these manual operations requires a series of dips, and each dipping operation results in a circumferential accumulation of wax about the wick. Each successive coat of molten wax is allowed to set before the wick is again dipped into the molten Wax. Because of the vertical dipping movements, the wax is deposited on the wicks in a manner to produce candles having a desirable taper and a round cross sectional shape.

Efforts have heretofore been made to develop machines for inexpensively producing candles of a type similar to those produced by the hand dip- .ping method. In prior attempts along this line,

the wick carrying frame was suspended from a I candles produced had an ovate instead of a truly round cross sectional shape. The reason for this objectionable result was that, in the machines developed heretofore, the wicks, while being lowered into and raised out of the molten wax, did not travel exclusively in a vertical direction, but also travelled horizontally through the molten wax. This horizontal movement of the wicks through the molten wax resulted in a thicker coating of wax on one side of the wick than on other sides thereof, instead of producing a circumferential coating of uniform thickness. In an attempt to compensate for this non-uniformity of Wax deposit, the wick frames were reversed from time to time in order to cause the wicks to periodically travel through the molten wax in opposite horizontal directions. This expedient,

however, while partially compensating for the non-uniform deposit of the wax, was not satisfactory for the reason that the candles produced by this method attained an ovate rather than a truly round, cross sectional shape.

With the above in mind, a general object of the invention is to provide a machine for mass producing dipped candles having the desirable taper and the truly round cross-sectional shap of hand dipped candles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a candle dipping machine wherein the candle Wicks travel exclusively in a vertical direction during a dipping operation.

A further object of the invtntion is to provide a candle dipping machine having an endless conveyor from which are removably suspended a plurality of wick carrying frames, said machine having means for guiding said frames, during a dipping operation, in a manner to insure exclusively vertical movement of said frames during said operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described wherein the conveyor is provided with spaced transverse rods and wherein the conveyor, adjacent the dipping vat, travels in avertical U-shaped path, there being means for suspending a wick carrying frame from each of said transverse rods and guide means for causing exclusively vertical movement ,of said wick carrying frames while said rods travel through said U-shaped path during a dipping operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described having damping means for preventing swinging movement of the Wick carrying frames and for maintaining said frames in a horizontal plane during a dipping operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described which will produce candles of any desired length without adjustment of said machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class described which is strong and durable, which is efficient in operation, and which is relatively easy to manufacture and repair.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved candle dipping machine and all of its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein is shown one compl te embodiment. of the preferred formof the invention and wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective View of the improved candle dipping machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Since the mechanism on both sides of the machine is substantially identical and the operation of the machine can be clearly understood by describing the operation of the mechanism at one side thereof, only one side of the machine has been shown and will be described with particularity.

Referring especially to Fig. l of the drawing, the numeral ill indicates one side chain of an endless conveyor which has an identical corresponding side chain (not shown) spaced from and parallel therewith. The numeral l| indi- 'cates a heated open tank containing molten wax 12 which is maintained at a predetermined level byany suitable means. The conveyor travels in a circuitous path, in a manner well known in the art, to provide for cooling of the candles between successive dipping operations. The conveyor I0 is supported on a frame structure |3 in :travelling said circuitous path, said structure being provided with suitably positioned idler sprockets (not shown) to facilitate said travel.

The frame structure l3 includes three spaced horizontally extending members l4, l5 and I6 :whichmay be made of wood or any other suitable :material, and which are positioned adjacent one end of the tank ll.

ber l5 adjacent the upper edge thereof, and mounted on the bracket ii are a pair of spaced be'arings I8 and I9. Rotatably mounted on the bearings I8 and i9 are a pair of parallel trans- An angle bracket H is connected to the inner surface of the frame memversely extending shafts 29 and 2|, to the inner ends of'which are respectively connected sprockets 2-2 and 23. The sprockets 22 and 23 are preferably identical and rotate in the same plane. The shafts 20 and 2| may be connected at their outer ends to any suitable source of rotative power' (not shown).

Connected at their upper ends to the frame member' I5 (through a spaced member 24) and at their lower ends to the frame member M, are

a pair of spaced, parallel, vertically extending 4 angle members '25 and 26. The angle members "25 and 26 each have a leg portion which is parallel with the frame members l4 and I5, and "these leg portions extend toward one another as 'is clearly shown in Fig. 4. 'The'parallel leg portions of the angles 25 and 26 extend adjacentthe exterior of the tank I I, as shown in Fig. 3. The leg portions at right angles to said parallel leg portions project inwardly over the tank H and preferably terminate at the upper edge of said :tank.

A bracket member 21 is fixedly connected across the inner surface of the parallel leg portions of the angle members 25 and 26 adjacent 'the upperedge of the tank I |,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Fixed to the bracket 21 is a stub shaft 28. The stub shaft 28 preferably has an enlarged 'head 29 at one end-and has a threaded portion 128' of reduced diameter at the opposite end .Whichprojects through the bracket 21 and S 4 fixed thereto by means of a nut 60. A sleeve 30 is preferably mounted on the shaft 28 adjacent the inner surface of the bracket 21, and freely rotatably mounted on the inner end portion of the shaft 28 is a relatively small sprocket 3|. The sprocket 3| has the same pitch as the sprockets 22 and 23, and, as shown in the drawings, the chain ll! extends over the sprocket 22, under and around the sprocket 3| and over the sprocket 23. It will be noted that the chain Hl extends in a substantially U-shaped path between the sprockets 22 and 23.

An angle bracket 32 is preferably connected to a central portion of the bracket 21 and has a portion projecting inwardly therefrom. Connected at one end to the frame member l6 and at the other end to the bracket 32 is a channel member 33. Mounted on the inner surface of the channel member 33, as by the screws 34, is an elongated tapered plate member 35. The rollers .of the chain In slidably engage the side edges of the member 35 as is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 land '4.

.Rigidly connected to the inwardly projecting legs of the angle members 25 and 26 are a pair of spaced Vertically extending angle members 36 and 3'1. The members 36 and 31 have outwardly projecting leg portions which are connected to the inwardly projecting legs of the angle members 25 and 26, and the angle members 36 and 31 also have leg portions which extend at right angles to said outwardly projecting legs and which extend toward one another. The last mentioned leg portions will be referred to hereinafter as cams or guide members 38 and 39. The cams 38 and 39 extend in substantially the same plane, and said plane is spaced inwardly from the chain H]. The cams 38 and 39 project upwardly so that the upper ends thereof are posi tioned adjacent the sprockets 22 and 23 respec- 'tively. The upper edges of the cams 38 and 39 are angled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lower ends of the cams 38 and 39 extend downwardly into the tank H, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Rigidly secured to and spaced from the angle members .35 and 31, as by the bolts 40, are a pair 'of angle members 3| and 42. The angle members 4| and 4-2 have leg portions 4| and 42, the edges of which are parallel with and spaced from the adjacent side edges of the member 35. The edges of the leg portions 4| and 42 are also slidably engaged by the rollers of the chain ID, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2.and 4. It is apparent from the foregoing that the chain W, in passing through its U-shapedpath between the "sprockets 22 and 23, is engaged on one side by the plate. member 35 which forms an inside guide, and is engaged on the other side by the angle members 4| and 42 which form an outside guide. The chain It, therefore, is travelling between the sprocket BI and the sprockets 22 and 23, moves in a straight line, being guided during said travel by said inside and outside guides. The conveyor chain It and the corresponding chain on the pposite side of the machine are provided with a pluralit of offset links 43 at spaced intervals. Two of the links 43 are shown in Fig, 1. Rigidly connected to said offset links are a plurality of spaced transverse rods 44. Freely swingably mounted near each end of the rods 44 are links 45. The links 45 are maintained against movement axially of the rods 44 by means of collars 46 fixed on the rods 44 on .each side of the links 45. Fixedly connected to time outer ends of the links 45 is a second transverse rod 41. Mounted on each end of the rod 41 is a-rotatable guide wheel 48 which has a diameter slightly less than, but substantially equal to, the space between the cams 38 and 39. The rod 41. projects outwardly from the links 45 sufficientl -to permit the guide wheel 48 t engage the cams 38 and 39, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

'A candle wick carrying frame 49, from which a plurality of candle wicks 50 may be suspended in any suitable manner, is provided with a hook shaped lug 5| at each end thereof. The frames 49 are pivotally and removably suspended from the rods 4'! by hooking the lugs 5| over said rods between the links 45 and the guide rollers 48, as is clearly shown in the drawing.

- Fixedly connected to the angle members 25 and 26 and projecting outwardl therefrom are a pair of horizontal brackets 52 and 53. Mounted for rotatable movement near the outer ends of the brackets 52 and 53 is a rod 54, to which may be fixed collars 55 and 56 for the purpose of preventing xial movement of said rod. Fixed to the rod 54 near each end thereof, and spaced apart a distance approximating equal to the width of the frames 49, are a pair of swingable arms 51 and 58 which project inwardly over the tank H as shown.

Fixed to a central portion of the rod 54 is a counter weight 59 which'counterbalances the weight of the arms 51 and 58 and normally holds said arms in the raised position shown in the dot and'dash lines of Fig. 3.

In the operation of the improved candle dipping machine a frame 49, having a plurality of wicks depended therefrom, is suspended from each of the rods 41 as shown. For the sake of clarit partially completed candles are shown suspended from the frames 49 rather than bare wicks 50.

- As the conveyor 59 is moved in the direction shown in the drawing, a wick suspending frame 49, such as the frame shown in the position A in Fig. 1, moves toward the sprocket 22. 'As the frame 49 passes adjacent the sprocket 22, it passes through the position B shown in dot and dash lines in Figs. 2 and 3. As the link 43 and the shaft 44 connected thereto moves with the chain Ill over the sprocket 22, the wheel 48 engages the upper angled edge of the cam 38 and moves therealong through the position 0 shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. It will be noted that by reason of the contact of the roller 48 with the cam 38, the shaft 41 and the link 45'are swung forwardly of, instead of being suspended directly below, the shaft 44. It is apparent that the frame 49 is also moved forwardly relative to the shaft 44 as the shaft 41 is so moved.

- Downward movement of the link 43 and the shaft 44 toward the sprocket 3| causes the roller 48 to 'roll downwardly along the upper edge of the cam 38 and to contact the inner edge of the cam 38, as shown in dot and dash lines in position D of Fig. 2 and in the full line position D shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that in this position the roller 48, the shaft 41 and the frame are swung forwardly with respect to the shaft 44 farther than they were when in the position C. Since the inner edge of the cam 38 extends in a straight vertical line, when the roller 48 moves downwardly and in engagement therewith, the tray 49 moves in a vertical path. The roller 48 is held in engagement with the cam 38 during this downward movement by reason of the weight cams 38 and 39 are spaced apart a distance which.

is slightly greater than, but substantially equal to, the diameter of the roller 48. This spacing permits rolling contact of said guide with the cam 38 during downward movement of said guide with preferably only enough clearance to permit said rolling contact,

As the frame 49 moves to the position D it comes into contact with the arms 51 and 58,:

said arms engaging the front and rear edge portions of the frame 49 adjacent one end thereof. Translating the movement of the frame 49 from horizontal, as in positionA, to vertical, as in position D, tends tocause the frame 49 to swing about the rod 41 to a certain extent. The arms 5! and 58 serve as damping means to stop this swinging movement, as well as serving-to maintain the frame 49 level throughout the dip ping operation. As the frame 49 moves downwardly, the arms 57 and 58 are slidably engaged thereby and swing downwardly therewith. The counterweight 59 is swung upwardly as the arms 51 and 58 so move.

As the link 43 and the shaft 44 move downwardly, the link 43 moves into contact with the sprocket 3| and travels therearound. In doing so, it passes through the full line position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. In moving from position D to the full line position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the link 43 and the shaft 44 move forwardly relative to the shaft 41, the roller 48 and the frame 49, as is clear from the drawing. Also during movement from position D to the "full line position, the wicks suspended from the frame 49 are moved downwardly in a vertical direction- The full into the molten wax |2 in the tank line position of the frame 49 is substantially its lowermost position.

Further movement of the link 43 around the sprocket 3| causes the rod 44 to move forwardly of the rod 4'! and causes the roller 48 to engage the inner edge of the cam 39. Due to the fact that the space between the cams 38 and 39 is substantially equal to the diameter of the roller 48, the shift of engagement of said roller from the cam 38 to the cam 39 is accomplished with no horizontal movement of said roller and consequently, no horizontal movement of the fram 49 or the wicks 58.

As the link 43 moves upwardly through the positio E shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, the roller 48 moves in a vertical path as it rolls along the inner edgeof the cam 39, movingwith it, in the same vertical path, the frame 49. As the frame 49 moves vertically upwardly, the arms 51 and 58 continue to slidably engage it, being kept in said engagement by the counterweight '59 which urges the arms 5'! and 58 toward their normal upwardly swung position. It is apparent that, as the frame 49 is moved vertically upwardly, the wicks or candles suspended therefrom are withdrawn vertically from the molten Wax' I2.

Upward movement of the link 43 toward the sprocket 23 causes vertical rolling movement of the roller 48 along the inner edge of the cam 39 until said roller reaches the angled upper edge of said cam. As the roller 48 travels along the upper edge of the cam 39, the link 43 moves upwardly and outwardly around the sprocket 23" a'nd' permits the: shaft 41 to move forwardly relative tothe'shaft 64. As the link 43 continues up around the sprocket 23, it lifts the shaft 44 upwardlyand disengages the roller 48 from the cam 39. This disengagement permits the shaft fiT-to be suspended directly below the shaft 44, as in position F shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2.

. By the time the roller 48 leaves the inner edge of the cam 39 and travels along the upper edge thereoijthe wicks or candles suspended from the frame 49 have been entirely withdrawn from the molten wax [2. The actual dipping of the wicks Bil-occurs only while the roller 48 is positioned between the inner edges of. the cams 38 and 39. When the roller 48 is positioned between the inneredges of the cams 38 and 39 no horizontal movement of said roller is possible, and conse quently; during the clipping operation, no horizontal movement ofthe frame dB is possible.

Experience hasshown that a series of approximately 34' dips of a frame of wicks produces an average size candle. Due to the fact that the conveyor ID travels in a circuitous endless path,

a-frame of freshly dipped wicks is given an opportunity to harden between successive dips thereof;v Between successive dips of the same frame. however, a plurality of other frames of wicks also carried by the conveyor I!) go through the dipping operation.

' The improved candle dipping machine, by providing a means for mechanically simultaneously dipping a plurality of wicks with an exclusively vertical dipping movement, provides a novel mean for the manufacture of high grade candles. The candles produced by the improved machine. are truly round in cross section, they have the. desired taper which is identical with that of hand dipped candles, and they are uniform in siZe and shape. Any length candle can be produced by the improved machine without making any adjustments thereto, the length of the candle manufactured being determined by the length of wick 50 suspended from the frame 49. The size of the candle manufactured is limited only by the length of the dipping stroke through which the frames 49 are moved.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of. the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank, a conveyor; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U-shaped path above said tank; cam members mounted adiacent said sprockets; a candle-wick suspending frame; and means for suspending said frame fromsaid conveyor, said suspension means coacting with said cams to limit said frame to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

'2. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor chain; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U- shaped path above said tank; a pair of cam members mounted adjacent said sprockets; a candlewick suspending frame; and means for suspendi-ng' said frame from said conveyor chain, said suspension mean coacting with said cams to limit said: frame to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

3. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor chain;

spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor'for conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

4. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor chain; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U-' shaped path above said tank; a pair of cam members mounted adjacent said sprockets; a candle wick suspending frame; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chain, said linkage having guide means coacting with said cams to limit said frame to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor fromwhich said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

5. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor chain; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U- shaped vertical path above said tank; a pair of cam members mounted adjacent said sprockets, said cam members having vertically extending inner edges; a candle-wick suspending frame; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chain, said linkage having guide means engageable with the inner edges of said cams to thereby limit said frame to rectilinear movement in a vertical direction only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

6. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor formed of a pair of spaced chains; spaced sprockets engaged by said chains and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U-shaped vertical path above said tank; a candle-wick suspending frame; cam members mounted adjacent said sprockets; and means for suspending said frame from said conveyor chains, said suspension means coacting with said cams to'limit said frame to rectilinear movement in a vertical direction only while the portion of the con-- veyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path. 1

7. In a candle dipping machine, the com bination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyorformed of a pair of spaced chains; spaced sprockets engaged by said chains and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U-shaped vertical path above said tank; a candle-wick'suspending frame; a'pair of cam members mounted adjacent the sprock ets of each of said chains; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chains, said linkage having guide means coact ing with said pairs of cams to limit said frame to rectilinear movement in a vertical direction only while the portion, of the conveyor from which said;frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path. 7

8. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor formed of a pair of spaced chains; spaced sprockets engaged by said chains and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U-shaped vertical path above said. tank; a candle-wick suspending frame; a pair of spaced cam members mounted adjacent the sprockets of each of said chains, said 'cams having vertically extending inner edges; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chains, said linkage having guide means engageable with said inner edges of the cams to thereby limit said frame to rectilinear movement in a vertical direction only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U.shaped path.

9. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor formed of a pair of spaced chains; spaced sprockets engaged by said chains and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U-sh'aped path above said tank; a candle-wick suspending frame; a. pair of spaced cam members mounted adjacent the sprockets of each of said chains, said cams having vertically extending parallel inner edges; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chains, said linkage having guides each of which is engageable with the inner edges of one pair of said cams, and said cams being mounted with their inner edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of said guides, whereby said frame is limited to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

10. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor formed of a pair of spaced chains; spaced sprockets engaged by said chains and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U-shaped path above said tank; a candle-wick suspending frame; a pair of spaced cam members mounted adjacent the sprockets of each of said chains, said cams having parallel inner edges; and pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor chains, said linkage having a pair of roller guides each of which is engageable with the inner edges of one pair of said cams, and said cams being mounted with their inner edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said guides, whereby said frame is limited to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

11. In a candle dipping machine, a candle dipping tank; an endless conveyor over the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are pivotally suspended; sprockets for said conveyor arranged to cause said conveyor with the frame suspended therefrom to travel in a vertical path directly above the candle dipping tank; and damping means mounted adjacent said tank and engageable with said frames during said vertical movement for maintaining said frames in a horizontal plane and for preventing swinging movement thereof.

12. In a candle dipping machine, a candle dipping tank; a conveyor over the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are spacedly suspended; means for successively moving said frames in a rectilinear vertical path over the candle dipping tank; and a pair of swingable arms mounted adjacent said tank and engageable with said frames during said movement thereof for maintaining said frames in a horizontal plane and for preventing swinging movement thereof.

7 13. In a candle dipping machine, a candle dipping tank; a conveyor over the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are spacedly suspended; means for successively moving said frames in a rectilinear vertical path over the candle dipping tank; a pair of arms mounted adjacent said tank for swingable movement in a vertical plane, said arms being slidably engageable withsaid frames during. said vertical movement thereof to maintain said frames in' a horizontal plane and to prevent swinging movement thereof.

14. In a candle'dipping machine, a candle dipping tank; a conveyor over the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are spacedly suspended; means for successively moving said frames in a rectilinear vertical path over the candle dipping tank; a pair of armsmounted adjacent saidtank for swingable movement in a vertical plane, said arms being slidably engageable with said frames during said vertical movement thereof to maintain said frames in a horizontal plane and to prevent swinging movement thereof; and means for normally urging said arms into upwardly swung position.

15. In acandle dipping machine: a candle dipping tank; an endless conveyor above the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are pivotally suspended; sprockets for said conveyor arranged to cause said conveyor with the frames suspended therefrom to travel in a vertical path directly above the candle dipping tank; a damping member pivotally mounted adjacent the dipping tank and engageable With said frames during said vertical movement for maintaining said frames in a horizontal plane and for preventing swinging movement thereof.

16. In a candle dipping machine: a candle dipping tank; an endless conveyor above the tank and from which a plurality of candle wick suspending frames are pivotally suspended; sprockets for said conveyor arranged to cause said conveyor with the frames suspended therefrom to travel in a vertical path directly above the candle dipping tank; and a pair of swinging arms mounted adjacent said tank and engageable with said frames during said vertical movement thereof for maintaining said frames in a horizontal plane and for preventing swinging movement thereof.

17. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of: a candle dipping tank; a conveyor; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U-shaped path above said tank; guide means mounted adjacent said conveyor, a candle-wick suspending frame; and means for suspending said frame from said conveyor, said suspension means coacting with said guide means to limit said frame to rectilinear movement only While the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

18. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of a candle dipping tank; a conveyor; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U-shaped path above said tank; stationary-guide means mounted adjacent said conveyor, a candle-wick suspending frame; and means for suspending said frame from said conveyor, said suspension means including a guide member movable with said conveyor and frame and engageable with said stationary guide means to limit said frame to rectilinear movement only while the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

19. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of: a candle dipping tank; a conveyor; spaced sprockets engaged by said conveyor for causing the same to travel in a substantially U-shaped path above said tank; cam means mounted adjacent said conveyor; pivotal linkage for suspending said frame from said conveyor, said linkage having guide means coacting with said cam means to limit said frame to'rectilinear movement only While the portion of the conveyor from which said frame is suspended travels in said substantially U-shaped path.

20. In a candle dipping machine, the combination of: a candle dipping tank; a conveyor formed-of a pair; of." spaced chains; spaced smock: ets engaged by said chains-and arranged to cause the chains to travel in a substantially U' shaped path above said tank; a candle-wick suspending frame; stationary. guide means mounted-adja-z-i cent said conveyor; a transverse rod connected to said chains and from which said, frame is suspended; and a guide member connected'to' said'rod and engageable with said guide means toclimit said frame to rectilinear movement While the portions of saidflchain's to which said'rod is connected move between said sprockets; I.-

- CHARLES T. BANKS.

REFERENCES CITED The'following references are of record in the file of this patentz' UITIII'I'IJD STATES PATENTS.

Number Date"v 

